Uber hopeful new London deal can be struck with TfL as licence talks continue, MPs told

Uber believes there is still a way to strike a deal with Transport for London which will allow it to continue operating in the capital, an executive has told MPs.

Head of public policy Andrew Byrne said the ride-hailing firm accepted it had shown "the wrong attitude" on a number of issues and was ready to change.

TfL refused to renew the firm's licence last month on the grounds of "public safety and security implications" relating to issues including the reporting of serious criminal offences.

Uber’s chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi offered an apology for "mistakes" in an open letter and met TfL for talks.

The Standard understands Uber is hopeful the talks will continue even after it formally files its appeal, which must be done by Friday. The firm would like to resolve the case before it ever goes to court.

Mr Byrne told the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee: "The company accepts that in lots of places it has had the wrong attitude and needs to change."

He added: "I think we are very conscious of the fact that 40,000 people do earn money through Uber in London. That fact weighs very heavily on our response.

Sadiq Khan hints there is still hope for Uber in London"But hopefully we can see a path forward now with TfL where we can address their concerns and continue to operate."

Some 3.5 million passengers use the Uber app to hail rides in London, and more than 850,000 people have signed a petition calling for its licence to be renewed.

Mr Byrne said Uber was taking part in a working party with the Metropolitan Police to develop a new policy for dealing with complaints of sexual harassment.

"We previously said it is the choice for anyone who wants to make the allegation whether they report it or not," he explained.

"The police have said to us that is not good enough, and we are making it a policy to change that."

He said Uber's technology, which allows it to identify drivers and track cars at all times during journeys, enabled the company to "be far more helpful in holding people to account with police investigations than a traditional private hire operator or taxi company".

And he said Uber was considering a policy which would block drivers from taking fares for more than 10-12 hours during a 24-hour period, in order to reduce the risk of them operating when too tired to drive safely.

Mr Byrne played down suggestions that self-employed drivers might lose their jobs to driverless cars in the near future, telling the committee: "A fleet with lots of human drivers will be the norm for 10 to 20 years, and that will continue to be the case in the UK".

_________________Taxis Are Public Transport too

Join the campaign to get April fools jokes banned for 364 days a year !

Uber hopeful new London deal can be struck with TfL as licence talks continue, MPs told

Uber believes there is still a way to strike a deal with Transport for London which will allow it to continue operating in the capital, an executive has told MPs.

Head of public policy Andrew Byrne said the ride-hailing firm accepted it had shown "the wrong attitude" on a number of issues and was ready to change.

TfL refused to renew the firm's licence last month on the grounds of "public safety and security implications" relating to issues including the reporting of serious criminal offences.

Uber’s chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi offered an apology for "mistakes" in an open letter and met TfL for talks.

The Standard understands Uber is hopeful the talks will continue even after it formally files its appeal, which must be done by Friday. The firm would like to resolve the case before it ever goes to court.

Mr Byrne told the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee: "The company accepts that in lots of places it has had the wrong attitude and needs to change."

He added: "I think we are very conscious of the fact that 40,000 people do earn money through Uber in London. That fact weighs very heavily on our response.

Sadiq Khan hints there is still hope for Uber in London"But hopefully we can see a path forward now with TfL where we can address their concerns and continue to operate."

Some 3.5 million passengers use the Uber app to hail rides in London, and more than 850,000 people have signed a petition calling for its licence to be renewed.

Mr Byrne said Uber was taking part in a working party with the Metropolitan Police to develop a new policy for dealing with complaints of sexual harassment.

"We previously said it is the choice for anyone who wants to make the allegation whether they report it or not," he explained.

"The police have said to us that is not good enough, and we are making it a policy to change that."

He said Uber's technology, which allows it to identify drivers and track cars at all times during journeys, enabled the company to "be far more helpful in holding people to account with police investigations than a traditional private hire operator or taxi company".

And he said Uber was considering a policy which would block drivers from taking fares for more than 10-12 hours during a 24-hour period, in order to reduce the risk of them operating when too tired to drive safely.

Mr Byrne played down suggestions that self-employed drivers might lose their jobs to driverless cars in the near future, telling the committee: "A fleet with lots of human drivers will be the norm for 10 to 20 years, and that will continue to be the case in the UK".

Byrne lying or misleading the Committee "enabled the company to be far more helpful in holding people to account with police investigations than a traditional private hire operator or taxi company"Again this guy proving they know nothing about this trade and holding themselves up to be better and whiter than white than operators who have been complying with the regulations since being 1st licensed.

He said Uber's technology, which allows it to identify drivers and track cars at all times during journeys, enabled the company to "be far more helpful in holding people to account with police investigations than a traditional private hire operator or taxi company".

A majority, possibly a significant majority, of taxi/PH firms now have similar systems to that.

Mr Byrne played down suggestions that self-employed drivers might lose their jobs to driverless cars in the near future, telling the committee: "A fleet with lots of human drivers will be the norm for 10 to 20 years, and that will continue to be the case in the UK".

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 31 guests

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot post attachments in this forum